I know none of us have our school brain on, but I would appreciate suggestions!!

I did some self-reflection and found that I was a bit too laid back about the homework situation. It was my first year on the job and I developed so many great strategies along the way, but this is something I continuously struggled with. When kids came in without their homework, I feel like I was just too easy on them.

This year I am turning over new leaf! I need my students to take their homework seriously and their need to be harsher consequences for not having it! I will no longer accept the "I forgot it on my desk at home and I'll bring it in tomorrow" excuse.

Things I have tried are......
- Calling parents, although I found it never accomplished anything for more than a week. Eventually, old habits returned.
- I gave out gold stars on a little chart and if they got a star every day of the week, they would get a no homework pass. Basically, the same students would get a HW pass each week while others didn't care. Also, it was an all or nothing deal so if the student didn't do the hw on Monday, there was no incentive to do it the other days.

I am wondering what others do about this. For reference, my students are in middle school. I would appreciate suggestions from teachers in ALL grades though! I could always get ideas from your suggestions, or modify it in a way that will be appropriate for my students!

Thanks in advance for any advice!!! I want to start thinking about this stuff early so I don't get overwhelmed at the end of the summer! Does this cound as preparing?

Re: I know none of us have our school brain on, but I would appreciate suggestions!!

The school I worked at was a K-5, and we would keep students in for recess if they did not finish homework/classwork. Is it a middle school situation where you could give out "lunch detention?" Or send them to another classroom during their free period so they can sit in the back of the room and finish it?

Re: I know none of us have our school brain on, but I would appreciate suggestions!!

I'm special area - so no HW...but one of the 6th grade teachers at my school has a homework chart. If a student did the HW they get a sticker. If everyone did the HW that day - they have a special day (she has a name for it) and they get 15 minutes extra recess.

If a student is absent - she waits until they come back to see if there will be extra recess.

If a student misses - they still have to make it up BUT there is no extra recess.

When I was in HS - we had HW detention during lunch. I usually didn;t give it for the first offense.

Re: I know none of us have our school brain on, but I would appreciate suggestions!!

I teach 9th grade biology and I give homework Monday through Thursday with few exceptions.

I tell them straight off the bat homework is 10% (10 points) of your quarter average. Last year I lucked out and got a highly motivated class with only a few HW stragglers.

As for punishment, a lower grade in my book is punishment. I allow students to hand in assignments until the unit exam for partial credit. After that they are out of luck to obtain points for the assignment.

If I notice a student missing quite a few hws in the first week or two of the school I give a phone call home, but like you, I do not see long term results from this. We also have an online grade book which allows me to send home automated emails with every assignment the student is missing.

In my two year course I had students stay after school to make up the hw with me, but once again I saw that this had limited results and did not improve hw collection and in the end punished me more than the students.

Also - there is no way I am doing lunch detention for missing HWs. I usually need that time to prep and to have a break from the students.

Message edited 7/30/2009 10:57:07 AM.

Re: I know none of us have our school brain on, but I would appreciate suggestions!!

thanks ladies! So far I think what would work best for me is having them doing it during lunch--- but..... some kids don't mind this so it's not even a punishment. Some would rather do it during lunch than home

Perhaps I can tell them that every 3 HWs done during lunch will result in 5pts off the unit test. How does that sound?


Keep the suggestions coming!

Re: I know none of us have our school brain on, but I would appreciate suggestions!!

I'm 3rd grade- we make the kids stay in at recess and complete the missecd work there.

Out of the 3 teachers on my grade level- 2 of us went out with the kids on the playground an done has a "detention" room.

Besides that- I'm laid back about it. If they do it, they do it.
If not, it affects their grades come report card time.

I remember how much I hated HW in school- not because I couldn't do it but because it was too easy for me- and I only give 2 subject sheets a night to start with. Most of them complete those-

I also give my lower level learners and spec ed students easier hw that they can do themselves so they don't feel frustrated and give up. h

Re: I know none of us have our school brain on, but I would appreciate suggestions!!

I don't know, maybe my policy is too harsh but...

My policy was NO late homework accepted unless due to absence. In addition, I would take a point off of their quarterly grade for each missing homework. No rewards for doing your homework...that's what you're SUPPOSED to be doing. Of course, if there was some extenuating circumstance, we could talk about it.

I know for me, it makes my life a lot easier. My first year teaching, I would accept all sorts of late work and invariably, it would be lost from the group, etc. etc....cuz I'm just not organized like that.

I taught high school.

Re: I know none of us have our school brain on, but I would appreciate suggestions!!

I teach middle school and my HW is 40% of their quarterly grade. I generally give HW Mon-Thurs and I accept it one day late and nothing more (unless they are absent). Basically, if they dont do their homework....they fail for the quarter.

I have sent progress reports home and called home and that does little to change it. This has helped me alot.

If they missed HW, I had them fill out a " missing HW excuse slip" and on it they had to explain why they didnt do their HW. I kept them in a small file box and used them if I had to call a parent or for conferences. This put the HW ball in the students court.